Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Aspland, Robert Brook
ASPLAND, ROBERT BROOK (1805–1869), unitarian divine, son of Robert Aspland [see Aspland, Robert], was born at Newport, Isle of Wight, 19 Jan. 1805. He was placed first with Mr. Potticary of Blackheath (where Disraeli was his schoolfellow), next with Mr. Evans of Tavistock, then at Glasgow University, where he graduated as M.A. in 1822, and lastly at Manchester College, York, finishing his studies in 1826. Crook's Lane, Chester, was his first chapel, whither he went in August 1826. He left in 1833 to be co-pastor with Dr. Lant Carpenter at Lewin's Mead chapel, Bristol, where, on 21 October of that year, he married Jane Hibbert, and established a boarding-school. In 1836 he moved to Dukinfield; in 1858 to Hackney. He took up the editorship of the 'Christian Reformer' on his father's death, 1845 (keeping it till the publication ceased in 1863). In 1846 he was made one of the secretaries of Manchester College (holding the post till 1857). In 1850 he collected from the 'Christian Reformer' memoirs of his father's life. Some smaller publications also came from his pen. 'A Brief Memoir of the Rev. Paul Cardale,' extracted from the 'Christian Reformer,' 1852; some Sermons, and 'Paul Best, the Unitarian Confessor,' 1853; and 'Mr. Richard Frankland and Dr. Henry Sampson,' reprinted in pamphlet form, 1862. Brook Aspland became secretary to the British and Foreign Unitarian Association in 1859; he was helped by a colleague in 1867, and having fallen into a precarious state of health, he died suddenly 21 June 1869, aged 65.
[In Memoriam, Notices of the Life of the late Rev. R. B. Aspland, M.A. (Dr. Williams's Library); the Inquirer, 3 July 1869.]